The Blessedness of Reconciliation
Introduction:
Psalm 32 is a wonderful record of redeeming grace showing the happiness of a man whose sins had been forgiven. This Psalm is David’s own experience and is a model for all who need forgiveness. The Psalm opens with
I. The Joy of the one Forgiven
A. In verses 1-2 we have four distinct expressions relating to the sinner who has confessed his sins and has been released from God’s condemnation.
1. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven
2. Blessed is the one whose sin is covered
3. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity
4. Blessed or happy is the man in whose spirit there is no guile.
B. You will notice also that only the Lord can forgive sins committed against Him. The Publican cried, “O Lord be merciful to me a sinner.” And went to his house justified. Simon once said to Jesus, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” But Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of man.” Isaiah said, “O God, I am a man of unclean lips” and God sent a messenger to cleanse his lips. The Prodigal said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight.” Put the ring of sonship on his hand. David said, “Against thee and thee only have I sinned.” but he found that God would forgive confessed sins.
C. Let us also note that God alone can cover sins so that they remain covered. David’s sin was well covered but God brought it out in the open. Joseph’s brethren sold him into slavery and told their father that a wild beast had killed him, but they were found out. The Bible says, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” (Nail in skull) Be sure that hidden sin will come out of hiding to embarrass and condemn. But God can cover sins, can put them out of sight, can bury them in the deep sea of His forgetfulness to remember them against us no more. Removes as far as east is from the west, literally blots them out.
D. Let us also note that the Lord does not charge iniquity to the one who confesses his sin. If we recognize our just due, who could stand before the Lord. Man’s best is regarded by God as but filthy rags. All the sacrifices offered on Jewish altars were not enough to atone for sin. Blessed is he to whom the Lord does not charge iniquity. We have a God which can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. All who like sheep have gone astray but the Lord hath laid on im the iniquity of us all. God has made provision for straying sheep by sending the good shepherd. Sin has not been charged to my account. It has been charged to Christ’s account. Christ died for my sins, according to the scriptures. He loved me. He died for me. I need only confess my sins and repent to receive from God remission and reconciliation. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.
E. The Justified person becomes a new creation. “Blessed is the man in whose spirit there is no guile.” In John 1:47 Jesus said of Nathaniel, “Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.” No treachery, no deceitfulness, no dishonesty. Instead of guile there is honesty, kindness, love, forgiveness. Truly, blessed is the man who has been reconciled to God. The redeemed are happy,
II. But unconfessed sin brings misery.
3-4 When I kept silence my bones rattled through my groaning all the day long. (4) For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me. My vitality is turned into the drought of summer. It was as though he said, “God gave me no peace. He kept shaking me so much that my bones rattled. Day and night He gave me the third degree. I couldn’t forget I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t get away from His accusation. “Thou art the man, thou art the man.” David had repressed the confession of his sin for a whole year and fears, horrors, troubles of soul came upon him. There is always a day of accounting for sinners. David escaped a nervous breakdown.
III. By confessing his sin–Vs 5
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgression unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” He acknowledged his sin. He uncovered his iniquity. He confessed his transgressions, and God forgave him.
Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man hid thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.”
Joel 2:12 says, “Therefore, also now saith the Lord turn ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rend your heart and not our garments. And turn unto the Lord your God. For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.”
Because of this answer to David’s prayer, “Shall everyone that is God’s pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.” According to 2nd Corinthians 6:2, “For now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”
IV. Forgiven and reconciled, he again finds refuge in God (7-8)
A. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble, thou shalt encompass me about with songs of deliverance. God had been his refuge, but sin had kept him from entering into it. Sine separates us from God’s fellowship. For a long time David had been hiding from God. Now with fellowship restored we find him hiding in God. There is a vast difference between hiding from, and hiding in.
B. The late Dr. Harry Ironside told of playing bear with his little boy. Some chairs were placed in the corner of the room with an opening between. Then Dad got down on his hands and knees with a big shaggy overcoat over him to represent the bear. The little boy would walk past the bear’s den and the bear would come out and chase him from room to room. One day the little fellow ran into a corner, and was so excited that he screamed. The bear was about to catch him when he whirled about face, caught his breath and said, “I’m not a bit afraid. You’re not a bear, you’re just my dear daddy.” And he sprung into his father’s arms.
C. Most of us could say, “Bless God.” It was just like that with me once. I was running away from God. I tried to hide. I ran into a corner and I couldn’t get away, so I turned to God in repentance. In confession I said, “I am not afraid of you. You are not my enemy. You are my refuge and friend.” Vs 8: “I will instruct and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go, I will guide thee with mine eye.” A renewed heart should desire to teach others the way. David says, I will be your teacher. But others believe that God is speaking instead of David and certainly this gives us assurance and comfort. How wonderful to have God show us the way and guide us in it!
V. Verses 9-11: Set forth David’s advice to sinners
A. David says, “Don’t make my mistake.” in “Be not as the horse or the mule which have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near thee.” Bit and bridle force them into submission, but we should willingly submit to God and not require force as applied to brute beasts.
B. Picture a burning barn and the owner trying to lead the animals to safety. How natural it is for the horse to hold back. If the horse only knew the danger and the owner’s attention, it would not hold back.
C. For a year David had been trying to pull back from God, and all the while God wanted to forgive him. Be not headstrong like the horse, or the mule. Act like a human being.
D. The Psalm closes by contrasting the sorrows of the wicked with the rejoicing of the righteous, and an exhortation to joy and praise by all the upright.
Vs 10: Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
Vs 11: Be Glad in the Lord and rejoice ye righteous, and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart.
Conclusion:
While this Psalm is primarily the expression of David’s experience, it also shows the nature of God, who for Christ’s sake loves to forgive when we confess our sins and do not act stubborn as the horse and mule. Like David, sinners need only repent, believe, and confess, to experience the blessedness of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
